2024 Volkswagen Passat wagon revealed, Australia ruled out

Following the interior unveiling of the Passat’s Skoda platform-share partners, Volkswagen has shown off its new medium-sized car – and it’s a wagon only.

Sharing its underpinnings and wheelbase with the Skoda Superb, the Passat isn’t due for Australian shores. Instead, it’s a Europe-only proposition for this generation.

Based on the latest iteration of the MQB Evo platform, the ninth-gen Passat launches with a pair of plug-in hybrids – one 150kW and another 200kW – both with 19.7kWh batteries for an EV driving range of 100km, says Volkswagen.

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A brace of 2.0-litre petrols are offered in Europe, the range-topper falls back to 195kW (from 206kW) due to emissions equipment and there’s a lower 150kW tune.

The base 110kW 1.5-litre petrol is available too and all feature 48-volt mild-hybrid boost. Europe also gets the option of three tunes for the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.

Inside, though, is where VW is most proud of the ninth-gen Passat. A new fourth-generation infotainment software that is focused on easing driver interaction.

Unlike the related Skoda Superb, though, HVAC settings remain either on capacitive sliders beneath the touchscreen, or in the menus. Volkswagen has at least removed the capacitive touch buttons from the steering wheel, replacing them with physical switches familiar from lower-grade Golfs.

The all-new seats are designed to be more comfortable and, on high trim levels, offer ‘ErgoActive’ 10-chamber massage function. Thanks to a 50mm wheelbase extension there's an additional 5cm of rear legroom.

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Underpinning proceedings is a new adaptive damper system, known as DCC Pro, which has a greater spread between the softest and firmest available settings, along with other refinements according to the carmaker.

Volkswagen has been clear in its messaging that the new Passat wagon will not come to Australia owing to its upcoming electric assault. Instead, that gap will be filled by Skoda with its new Superb. Also departing next year is the Golf R Wagon, likely to be replaced by the Cupra Leon Sportstourer.